My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils stratch out a win in extra-innings, as they defeat the Padres, 3-2.

The Phils stratch their way to an extra-innings win as they defeat the Padres, 3-2, regaining the wild card lead while closing the Braves’ lead in the East to two games.

The Phils took the lead in the third as, with two men on, and with two men out, Chase Utley hits an RBI single, scoring Jimmy Rollins, who had earlier singled, and had moved up to second on Placido Polanco’s single, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, while sending Polanco, who had just singled, to second base. The Padres tied the game up at one-all in their half of the third as, on a 1-0 fastball, Yorvit Torrealba hits a lead-off home run to left. The Phils regain the lead in the eighth as, with the bases loaded, via a walk to Utley, a single by Ryan Howard, sending Utley up to second base, and a walk to Jayson Werth, moving up a base both Utley and Howard, and with one man out, Raul Ibanez hits an RBI single, scoring Utley, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead, while sending Howard to third and Werth to second. The Padres then got out of the inning as Luke Gregerson got Shane Victorino to hit into a force out, 1-2, as Howard is thrown out at home plate for the inning’s second out, while Werth and Ibanez both moved up a base, then got Carlos Ruiz to strike out looking. In the ninth, the Padres tied up the game at two-all as, with the bases loaded, via a single to pinch hitter Matt Stairs, who is then pinch run for by Jerry Hairston, who then went to second on David Eckstein’s sacrifice bunt, 1-4, an intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez, after a Miguel Tejada ground out, 5-3, and hitting Ryan Ludwick, moving up both Hairston and Gonzalez, and with two men out, Hairston scored on a Brad Lidge balk, as both Gonzalez and Ludwick moved up a base, before Chase Headley ends the inning by grounding out, 3-1, sending the game into extra-innings. The Phils took the lead once again in the twelfth as, with a runner on second, and with nobody out, Polanco hits an RBI single, scoring Rollins, who had earlier doubled, as he got his hand across the plate before the tag, to give the Phils a 3-2 lead, while Polanco moved up to second on the throw home. That would be the final score as Chad Durbin pitches a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Will Venable looking, for the final out.

Roy Oswalt gets a no-decision as he pitches eight strong innings, giving up just a run on five hits, as he strikes out six. Brad Lidge had his fifth blown save of the season, as he pitches an inning, giving up a run on a hit, a walk, a hit batter and a balk. Ryan Madson pitches a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two batters. Chad Durbin gets the win, as he pitches two inning, giving up a hit, while striking out two. His record is now 4-1 with a 3.51 ERA. Mat Latos also gets a no-decision as he pitches seven inning, giving up a run on five hits and two walks, while he strikes out six. Mike Adams pitches a third of an inning, giving up a run on a hit and two walks, while striking out a batter. Joe Thatcher pitches to one batter, giving up a hit. Luke Gregerson pitches one and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball, striking out a batter. Heath Bell pitches two scoreless innings, walking a batter, while striking out four. Ernesto Frieri takes the lost as he give up a run on two hits and a walk, while striking out one. His record is now 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA.

The Phils had nine hits, with Jimmy Rollins leading the team with three hits, two singles and a double. Placido Polanco follows with two hits, both singles, as he knocks in a run. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Roy Oswalt had the other four Phils’ hits, all singles, with Utley and Ibanz both knocking in a run. The Phils’ offense is still having problems knocking in runners in scoring position.

The Phils (71-57, 2nd East) continue their series with the Padres (76-51, 1st West) with an afternoon game, that will be televised nationally on FOX. The game will be played at PETCO Park and will start at 4:10 pm Eastern (1:10 pm Pacific). The Phils will be going for their second win in a row, while trying to decrease the Braves’ lead in the East to a game.

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